Posted on 10/08/2015 5:24:46 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
With the news that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, has dropped his bid for House speaker, the Republican conference is scrambling to find a new leader.
Although speakers have always been members of the House of Representatives, it is in fact not a requirement written in the Constitution. Article I, Section 2 Clause 5 reads:
"The House of Representatives shall chuse [sic] their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment."
On a few occasions, lawmakers have voted for someone who isn't a member. Last January, when John Boehner was elected to serve as speaker of the 114th Congress, various members voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Sens. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky and Rep. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama....
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Oh. I didn’t know that. This whole concept of a Speaker not being a member is new to me.
Bring back the hammer - He was always effective, and now he has a bone to pick...
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